diff --git a/api/api.py b/api/api.py
index d3c8ad7..43b631a 100644
--- a/api/api.py
+++ b/api/api.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 import uvicorn
 
-from .tooling.logger_init import logger
+from api.tooling.logger_init import logger
 from routers.configuration.operations import init_router as init_configuration_router
 from routers.database.operations import init_router as init_database_router
 from routers.internal.operations import init_router as init_swissarmy_router
diff --git a/api/tooling/__init__.py b/api/tooling/__init__.py
index 0a373e5..143f486 100644
--- a/api/tooling/__init__.py
+++ b/api/tooling/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
 # __init__.py
-
-from .check_env_vars import check_env_vars
-from .set_log_level import set_log_level
-from .logger_init import logger_init
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/tooling/logger.py b/api/tooling/logger.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa6409b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/tooling/logger.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+from api.tooling.logger_init import logger_init
+
+logger = logger_init() # specify 'DEBUG' if early debugging (env) is needed
diff --git a/api/tooling/logger_init.py b/api/tooling/logger_init.py
index 6c17bed..a8f5b90 100644
--- a/api/tooling/logger_init.py
+++ b/api/tooling/logger_init.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 import logging
 import sys
-
-from api.tooling import set_log_level
+from tracemalloc import start
 
 class CustomFormatter(logging.Formatter):
     """
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ class ANSIColors:
     logging.CRITICAL: ANSIColors.bold_red + '%(levelname)s:' + ANSIColors.reset + '\t  %(message)s'
 }
 
-def define_logger(startup_logging_level: str = 'INFO') -> logging.Logger:
+def logger_init(startup_logging_level: str = 'INFO') -> logging.Logger:
     """
     Initialize logging.Logger with custom logging format based on logging severity level.
 
@@ -59,8 +58,7 @@ def define_logger(startup_logging_level: str = 'INFO') -> logging.Logger:
 
     # set_log_level(logger, 'debug') # normally not needed, enable for debugging of env variables only
 
-    set_log_level(logging.getLevelName(startup_logging_level))
+    logger.setLevel(logging.getLevelName(startup_logging_level))
 
     return logger
 
-logger = define_logger() # specify 'DEBUG' if early debugging (env) is needed
diff --git a/api/tooling/set_log_level.py b/api/tooling/set_log_level.py
index 0ee0104..542d8ef 100644
--- a/api/tooling/set_log_level.py
+++ b/api/tooling/set_log_level.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from logging import Logger, getLevelName
-from api.tooling.logger_init import logger
+from api.tooling.logger import logger
 
 
 def set_log_level(level_str: str) -> None: